Electrical switch



Feb. 49 E93@ A. G. STEINMAYER C ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed'June 29, 1925 2. Sheets-TSheet l y ffAlwm E. tEmmayL www www a M Ill ma A. G. STEINMYER ELECTRICAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-She Filed June 29, 1925 obwwQ/J@ Ahwm.litmnmayn ya ww provide an improved 'switch'.construction, of t *A thecharacter describedin' which the movable contact-has. a slight .rotational `movement' in ;.1' #the clip oi the stationary Contact prior-'to a 5 .11.5 breakingmovementto thus permit the .ready U-Nlrejn STATES .,PATENr OFFICE ALWIN' GKSTEINMY-rm, or MILWAUKEE, wisconsin, AssIeNoR, BY MEsNE ASSIGN- ,Y MENTS, vTo." LINE MATERIAL conronarron or DELAWARE coMrANY, or l scorn MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A

'Application' "mea- .rune 29, leas.. serial. nu. 40,32?.

v[This invention .relates L to certain new: and

usefull,improvements' 'in electrical switches vand refe rs' more particularly to jthat type ofl 'switc hespecially designed'for use in conv nection -with high current.

-. reein'g of thei contacts vand prevent'any tend#` gqspring-.clipjwhich is simple to manufacture ',theparts.- i 4 With the ablov'eand'other objects in 'view 1 3.-whicl`1 willt1 appear las, theY description pro-y f "1 ceeds, my'in'vention'; resides in the novelccnlwhiclivvill aiford maximum'electric'al engagem'ent with'the-movablecontact- "Q-Andja still urtherobcctfof this` inven-A ltion' resides l in vthe. provision of` an vin'iprov'ed 5`means i'jor easing- Athe movement ofthe oo n-L tacti'ng 'mechanism ft0 either' of its' .limits and .thus5prevent-.the bangingpr jarring of struction, 'combination' and arrangement of hereindisclo'sed 'invention maybemade as comevvithin the scope of'the claims,` ,In .theaccompanying drawings, I have illustratedflone, complete examplev of the' physical'ernbodiment of my invention constructed 'according to theV best mode- I have so far devised *for Vthe .practical application` of theprinciples'. thereof', land in which:

',Fi-gure'l is' a 'side-viewr cfa switch unit' embodyingv my` i'nvention parts being. broken 'aw-ay: and in section; Figure 2 isa sectional view ofamovable Contact and 'mechanism' for. actuatlngv the same, said v iewbeing taken throughFigurel ven they'plane of` the 4line 2 2, *parts thereof being .broken away and iny section;

Figure isa view partly in section and 'partly in elevation taken through the sta- 1 tionary contact on the .of Figure 1, and

plane of the line 3-3 Figure L isa detail sectional view of the movable' switch blade, said view being taken merals. .designate like parts throughout the several views, vthe numeral `5 :designates a transverse-beam or support of the customary frame work upon which switches of this char 'acterare mounted, the beam 5 bridging standards or other members 6.' The switch may bel arranged in units of vone or more and when usedjas a three phase switch 1n connection although but` one is shown. in the drawings.l

Fixed tothe beam 5 adjacent one end a bracket support 7 which has'aA flanged surface 8 inclined inwardly. to receive the flanged base Q-of an insulator support 10 which is boltodthereto, as at 11, they support l0 mounting a suitable petticoat or other type of in-l sulator 12 on the outerend of which a. stationary contact 13 is fixed. The stationary` contact 13 includes an approximately Y- shaped vbracket member 14,- th'eleg or vertical. portion 15 of which forms a contact proper and the arms 16'and 17 of which provide means forv the mounting of 'the contact onthe insulator and the supporting of the adjacent end ofthe line or conductor 18. The arm-.16' is flanged at its end and se-4 cured to the -top of the insulator 12 and also is flanged' along` one edge, as at 19, and has 'one end of an arcing horn 20 adjustably secured thereto by a clamping plate 21. The

outer -end of thearm 17 is enlarged, as at.

22, and formed with a"-\/4 23 in which the condu'ctor 18' rests and is clamped bya plat'e 24,

the inner end of the conductorbeing electrically connected to a terminal 25 which is -f Velectrically connected with a Contact clip or blade member26 by bolts 27 which also serve to secure theclip or plate 26 to the leg of the with an oil switch,.three'units.are employed,

by the V 23 and plate 24relievesthe connecl .tion between the line 18 and theterrhinal 25c the line at the clamp and through the` bracket 'of all mechanical strains andalso provides an emergency source forucarrying 'a good- "portion of the currentgin case'of 'a faulty joint between the lineandthe terminal as the current, in such`y event, will `pass from m'rnber to the vcontact blade.

, The outerr end '0f the -member is offset;

parallel with respect .to the clip 26 and has .theline 18 to thebraclet 14,and thev ribbon 49 is looseto free the movable contact of any a recessed portion orpocket 27 in which. the

guide stud 28 cfa yieldablelortloating clip 2 9. is mounted, a' .spring 30- being concealedin thev recess' and coiled -aboutthe.`stud to .normally urge the member 29. outward on member 26, the out'erends lot said ymembers v beingiared or'curved laterally, as at. 31,

to* facilitate theen'trance therebetween of t'he mevable` contact blade :32;

The movablecontact blade is: mounted onan insulator 33 of.' etticoat or any-other suitable constructionl y a pair l'of spaced 35 which standards, lugs or'ears 34v formed on a flange is suitably secured to thefinsula-- torse.'-

The blade 32 is mounted between the lugs4 34- by a pivot'bolt 36 and a secon-d bolt 37,

the fopeningl" 38 in tliesp'ring blade through. which .the bolt 37passes being'ctincreased diameter' permits alimited. swlnglng move- '1 I'nent of the switch blade for. the purpose later described. The flange `\is grooved, as 1t-,39,

to receive the inner' end ofan 'arcinghorn 40 which vis. adjustably secured therein by a clampingplatej41 .and which eXtends' 1p-. wardly to. cooperate with the arcing horn 20 -offthe 'stationary contact. The horn40, like the horn'20, being adjustablepermits their ready. setting to varylthe contact or 'tension therebetween', aswill be obvious.'

. The-insulator 33' is mounted on a suppont .42 someyvhat similar tothe support 10 which is futbol to abracl. tf43'mounted on a-rotatable shaft 44 journaled". in bearings 45 carried' by th` beam :5.53The` -shaft 44 is rotated-bya crank arr'n46 I ixejdthereto and to the-.end

'1 -of whicharr.operatingv rod 47-is connected,

' the other -end of the rod 47 being connected with a suitable :actuating mechanism, not

shown.' Limit screws 45..l define. the travel l of the-shaft and. are threaded vin lugs 46 formed' on'thebearing'45-Thescrews 45 x 'o'f movement asbest shown in'Figure 1L The switch'blade 32" is connected with the. .line 48 through a'ribbonconductor 49,- one engage the bracket 43' atv either of its limits end of which'isv clamped between'- the parts 5 0 of a terminalf'51urivetjed or otherwise electrical-ly connected with the blade 32, as at v52,

. and havingl its other endl clamped between the part 53 and :.t'mouiitimg 54. of aterminal 55 to. which the line 48.is'c,onnect ed.' In this man:

els

ner the line isl'directl'y rconnected-with the switch'blade32 and any' possibility of trouble, such as would be encountered were a friction vjoint relied on tocarry current, iseliminated. The support 54`is mounted on the top of an insulator 56 which is of petticoat or'oth'er suitable type and is carriedby a mounting 457 bolted or otherwise secured, as at 5 8, to

the transverse member 5' on the vside. of the shaft44 opposite the stationary contact. The insulator 56 and-itssu'pport takes the train of the line 48 which is clamped thereto in a manner similar-.t the connecting of strain and is guarded against coming in contact with the. partsof the switchby the toggle link arrangement best illustrated in Figurefl.

-Thelange 35 and thesupport 5 4 have their adjacent en'ds provided with apertured lugs '59 to. which the outer ends of levers 60 vand A61 are connected by pivots 62 and 63,. respec` tively, theinner ends of the leversl being pivotally connected 'bya pin 63 Each lever 60 from the terminal 55 over va-bolt 64 mediallyv connectingthelinks of the levers 61,.1mder the pivoter and-over a bolt 65 mdiauY-'wn nectin'g the links of thelevers 60 so that .the contact blade 32 in'circuitjclos'ing Pi tion, 'the ribbon'z49-fislin. a'fs'ubstantially sti-'aight line from the terminal the ter '100: v `The levers- '60 andlarefofa'flength so minal 51. v

that their pivot 63 never `fallsbe'-low an im- I I' aginary. vline drawn through the'. pivots 62 and 63. sog-'that` movement of the 'insulator mounting carrying the' switch blade, is notflqf,

interfered with, as is best illustrated in Fig'- switchf blade 32 is swung therealong, to the;

right, w ith reference tol, Figure 1, breaking the cntinuity of the current from one line .no

endsgof the terminal parts to which the ends of the ribbon 49 are connected, are preferably.

. l i A plurality of the switch units are gen'erally controlled from' a single' rod 44- and the impro-ved means for easing or absorbing the mechanism being of considerable. weight f 'ca ses a Ic0 I1si lera blejar to thedevice as it is 'moved .to either 'of its limits. andI provideanfmovable parts' tothus prevent possible injur i by ceiling a spring GZ about the'. shaft 44a@- to the mechanism. .I accomplish this resu t" l projection ze extended from-fthe side.. ef

oivercome'bythe novel manner L'of' mounting :bolt 37 fpassedtherethrough. orelse being of."

elongated nature.-. With-the" SWCCH. Closed-,v

.-theswitch bladeusjmoved totheright its ,fullV s's-flimi'twith referenceto'Figure l by reason of againstsolthat'upon openinginovement the i mentjinethe springzcontact 3l 'asfwill' beA ap- (40 parent, thus breaking4 the contact 32 .freeI 'of themembers 31 inthe eventtheyhaveffrozfen ltov .permit thesfre'e continued. movement" of,l

'.ij'the mechanismtodisen'gage the contact 32 .45'. `From the foregoing description taken inj ready .o'peningf'of the yswitcli Withoutl vinjury* f in thefevent the switch contacts havebec'ome- .fr'zeniand one in which -an 'improved type I ofs'pringclip is employed to insurema'x'imum electrical contact,"with:l the movable switchA 'biade'f Y o 4 Vlfhat''Ifclaim asmyi-nventi'oniszf y 1.' Inizaswitch construction., a. contact clip fcut away toprovide a laterali Aandthenlonv gitudinally directed' arm, a oating Contact?" "vclip member "extended parallel withrespect..

"" j'aoentftlie transverscjmembery with itsen'dsf. Sandi 6.9disposed- 'oni' opposite sides of a lugthetransverse meinberffand on opposite sidesf,'ftl1 `e instr1ick ori lateral armjf 11 of af crank'. 7211 fiX djtothe shaft-14 adjacent the1spriing,,l asa-tTS. Aswill be evident, when the switch.-

mec'hanismislmoyed. tof Closed positionnthe y tlifeother lclip member?, l 2.' I

pii'sition' illustratedginIFigure. llto thus ease t e'shockbf the' mechanism coming -tO rest. f ""Switfchesfoffthe characterillustrated yare 4 .kye ticlosed f -or 'indefinite-periods of time, Vas

' vvafl'esult of which, the colin'ta'ct's tend to freeze,` 25makin-gitxdiicult-'to' actuatethe parts to break `the' 'circuit' l.without 'some' injury to the ',in's'ulators.4

:'.tofthe-arm and spacedl tlnrefron-n,"a second' Contact clip,membe` r vfixed'lito saldf'memb'er and `extended over 'the arm,the outer end of'said second Contact j clipfmelmbter and the v'other contact 'clip- 'member forming thefcontactor v gclip, and afvspringjconfined between the arm fandrst contact-'clip member'and urging said first-mentionedv contact clip. member'` toward.

a "switch construction-7 a" Contact member. comprisingA agcondu'ctor support of 'approximately Y-shape, means on one arm of -the Y facilitating its mounting ona support, .means on the othergendtof the' Y lto -which` 5 @direc tion-fto open the switch, causes fthe arm 'j- 'Zlffto' 'move the switcli -1` ar'm. '68;'with1-it,= the 1f .l j"switch 'end .69y bearing against the .projection c "ZOQaIld-the vten'siono'f the spring increasingasi` `theendof a conductor line may be connected,

laterally Vand 4tlife'n longitudinally, la [contact .clip secured to vthe leg of the Y,v and extend.

Ved over. the offset end thereof, a second contact clip mountedy between l,the Aextended end fof the first .clip andtlie'oifset iportionfof the Y'leg. and means ".resilientlyY urging the second clip toward the extended end portion of the firstfclip,

`3.In a. switchconstruction, a pair of spaced stationary insulators, one of vsaid'insulators being inclined upwardly and inwardlytoward 'the"vother,.a vmovable insulator' rmoui-itedbetween-the first mentioned insula-v tors, a contact clip carried bythe inclined insula'tor, aswitcli'blade, means mountingv the the outerfend of Atheleg ofthe-'Y being. offset.

switch bladeon the movable insulator whereby the vblade' hasa 'degree' of unrestricted piv-l otalfmove'mcnt withrespect to its mounting, meanslfor' actuating the movable insulator 'to engage and dsengage the blade Awith the" l v4fcont'ac't clip', means connecting the contact switch blade is given a slight rotational move;

.Clip. carried by'fthe inclined insulator 'with a line,v means. connecting 'a secondline with the 'other' stationary insu1ator,.and. means elecgaged withthe movable contact and includl lng'a bracket member having an offset portion, aponta'ct. clip .fixed to the bracket memberv'and overlying'the offset portion, aiioatingcontact clip positioned between theoffset fixed" clip whereby the floating clipv is free to yportion andthe fixed clip, and means yeld- -ablyl urging'said `floating clip 'towards the after'tlie engagementvof the'movable contact( v v .therewithbetween the clips.

5;' vAn 'electric switch contact, comprising.ai.v

bracket, 'an arm yextended therefrom, a. contact clip fixedV tothe bracket and overlying the arm but spaced therefro1n,a second coif-A '1y Aretaining vthe second contactfclip .between the armand the-xed vcjontactplipv and means tact clip, cooperating means carried b'y the" 'second contact clip and thel arm-forvfl'oatin'g- -yieldably urging the second Contact clip"to.

' `wards theirst, whereby the second oontaotY clip is at all times reeto assume a position parallel with the first Contact clip. y

V 6. In a switch construction, a pair ofcon- -taets adapted to. be engaged with each other,

- one'of said contacts including a member having an extended end4 portion, a contact clip carried byV Jthe member and overlying* said extended end portion -but spaced therefrom, a floating Contact vc'lip'positioned"in .the space between vtheextencled endportioh and the y first-mentioned vContact clip, 'and means yieldably urging said floating Contact clip .toward the other Contact clip whereby the .clips are free to maintain a position parallel with-eaeh other .l 'A 1 In testimony whereofl aix my signature.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.l

soI 

